Perry's claim that his border security efforts have led to a 60 percent drop in crime doesn't hold water. The calculation he touts doesn't consider crimes committed in cities and towns where most border residents live. It also compared two calendar quarters rather than weighing years' worth of data.
Crime may have temporarily subsided in some rural areas of the border region.
However, it's not clear how much of any decline can be traced to the state's investment in security.
We rate Perry's sweeping statement based on an unreasonable manipulation of crime statistics -- the second instance of his administration touting questionable border crime numbers -- as Pants on Fire.
Rick Perry's lies will continue coming throughout the campaign -- great work by the Statesman on holding his feet to the fire on this outrageous claim. We look forward to their continued new work throughout the coming months, as they redefine fact-check journalism in Texas.
